Fall 2015 Newsletter Items
Fall 2015 Newsletter Items
We have accomplished a few of our objectives this year. You will notice that the area around our entrance sign has been renovated and is looking pretty sharp. We continue to investigate options to have a flag pole installed there as well. The vacant lots in the rear of the subdivision have been better maintained, with the removal of the unsightly dirt pile. In our Spring Newsletter we asked to residents to continue to contact the Belvidere Park District and ask them to provide a park/playground nearer to our subdivision. It could be something that we share with Green View Estates. Since there is no sidewalk or bike path along Newburg Road, our residents do not have a park that has safe access for our children to get to without being driven there.
This year we are going to have a Christmas Decorating Contest with the prize being a $50.00 gift card to a local restaurant. You will need to have your property decorated by Dec. 12th and the judging will be done by the board members on the evening of Dec. 15th. If you are not decorating your house and would like to be on the judging committee, please contact us. Prize will be awarded for the most appealing lighting display. As a reminder, please make sure that your lighting and displays are removed after the Holidays as soon as weather permits.
Neighborhood Watch – we are still looking for a coordinator and street captains to work with the Community Officer from the Belvidere Police Department – Officer Fish. It is a proven fact that this program reduces crime and vandalism in communities that have an active Neighborhood Watch program. Please send us an email or call if you would be willing to participate in our program.
PREFERRED TRASH COLLECTOR – MDC Environmental has agreed to be our preferred trash collector. In doing so, they have offered us a reduced rate of $48.00 per quarter. They will provide a 96 gallon wheeled container at no additional cost. You must mention that you are a resident of Prairie Place Sudivision when calling to set up new service or to get the reduced rate for current MDC customers. The number if 815-568-7274.
We want to make sure that all the homeowners realize that we are a volunteer board. We are still required to pay our dues just like all of you. We donate a lot of time each week and month having board meetings, working with real estate agents and attorneys when properties are sold, filling out various forms and IRS tax returns, keeping track of all the finances and paying invoices for various services, writing newsletters and going to the printer, stuffing envelopes answering emails and phone calls from homeowners and working with our association attorney to name but a few of the tasks we perform. Our goal is to try to have a nice neighborhood to live in an keep our property values from deteriorating. We still have 3 openings on our Board of Directors. This is your chance to have a voice and make a difference in our neighborhood.
Spring 2015 Newsletter Items
Spring 2015 Newsletter Items
We thought it was time to update everyone about the happenings in the Subdivision and with the Association. As always, our goal is to work for, and with you to make Prairie Place an outstanding place to live.
HOME OWNER ASSOCIATION BOARD
The beginning of the year brought about personnel changes within the Board of Directors. There are vacancies. We still need a Vice President and two more voting Directors. This is a great opportunity for residents to get involved. At last year’s Annual Meeting we discussed initiatives that we would like to focus on. Here is your opportunity to make a difference and speak for the community. I encourage you to get involved and be a part of the solution.
BOARD MEMBERS
The Association Board currently consists of four officers:
Robert Easterbrook – President
Diane Vorndran – Treasurer
Kathleen Bauch – Secretary
Tammy Wyant – Director
PLAYGROUND
We continue to investigate and research ways by which we can create a playground area for our children. We would ask the homeowners to call the Belvidere Park District at 815-547-5711 and remain vocal that we need a safe area for our kids to play.
PREFERRED TRASH COLLECTOR
MDC Environmental has agreed to be our preferred trash collector. In doing so, they have offered us a reduced rate of $48.00 per quarter. They will provide a 96 gallon wheeled container at no additional cost. You must mention that you are a resident of Prairie Place Subdivision when calling to set up new service or to call and get the reduced rate for current MDC customers. The number if 815-568-7274.
WEBMASTER
The Prairie Place website continues to be a work-in-progress. We seem to take one step forward and two back every year. Our resource person who was going to update and maintain the site is no longer available. We are looking for a volunteer or two to help us maintain and update the website. The site at belvidereprairieplace.com is up and running, however there is no one to oversee content, mail, etc. We want this site to be a resource for families to include Association Budgeting data, area news, board meeting minutes, and announcements. We’d also like to make it a prace where residents with local businesses could advertise their services and/or products.
Please consider volunteering for this position.
SOCIAL DIRECTOR
We would like to form a committee that would assist in area gatherings and events like a block party, Holiday Parties, Garage Sales and our Annual General Meeting.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
As you may already know, the Belvidere Police Department has brought aboard a new Community Relations Officer who will, among other activities, monitor Neighborhood Watch activity for the city. Officer John Fish is very enthusiastic about these programs. Some of you may have met him when he was visiting the subdivision last year. Statistics prove that areas with an active Neighborhood Watch have reduced criminal activity.
We are looking for Cell Captains and volunteers to help with activities. PLEASE donate some time to this worthwhile cause. Officer Fish would like to set up a meeting for all those residents that would like to participate in our Neighborhood Watch Program. Help us keep our neighborhood safe by sending an email to: prairieplaceil@yahoo.com stating that your are interested. Several residents expressed interest at the last annual homeowners meeting. Please send the email by June 30 and Officer Fish will send out a group email and set up a time and place for a kick off m
Remember if you notice any suspicious activity – please call 911 and report it to the Belvidere Police Department.
ENTRANCE LANDSCAPING
We are continuing our efforts to make our community a place we can all be proud to live in. We have contracted with a local landscaping company to refresh our entrance sign area. They are going to begin in the next couple weeks. We are also considering installing a flag pole and dedicate in remembrance of our nations’ veterans.
COMMUNITY AESTHETICS
We are very proud of our neighborhood and the progress we are making to make this an appealing and pleasant place to live and raise our families. Please continue to keep our neighborhood beautiful by adhering to the City of Belvidere Codes where lawn mowing is concerned. Also, please make sure that any remaining holiday lighting is removed from your property.
HOW TO REACH US
PPHOA Board members can be reached via email at prairieplaceil@yahoo.com or by phone at 815-323-9946. Email is checked as often as possible and there is always someone handling the phone line however, as we are all volunteers, we may not be immediately available to answer but we will return you call as soon as possible. You can also mail to us at PPHOA, PO Box 574, Belvidere, IL 61008.